Cercis plant named ‘NC2015-12’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Cercis canadensis  eastern redbud plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NC2015-12’, is provided which forms gold colored foliage. The new variety provides vegetation that is moderately vigorous and the growth habit is weeping. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name—Cercis canadensis.

Common name—eastern redbud.

Varietal denomination: ‘NC2015-12’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Cercis canadensis eastern redbud plant was created ina controlled breeding program during March, 2009 at Raleigh, N.C.,U.S.A., by a controlled cross wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasthe ‘Covey’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,328). The male parent (i.e.,the pollen parent) was the ‘Hearts of Gold’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,740).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Covey’ x ‘Hearts of Gold’

The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single seedling withinthe second generation progeny of the above-stated open-pollination atJackson Springs, N.C. Selective study resulted in the identification ofa single plant of the new variety in 2015.

It was found that the new variety of Cercis plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) forms attractive, gold colored foliage,    -   (b) exhibits weeping growth habit; and    -   (c) provides moderately vigorous vegetation.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘Covey’ variety (i.e., theseed parent) displays medium green colored foliage and the ‘Hearts ofGold’ variety (i.e., the pollen parent) displays upright vase shapedgrowth habit, whereas the new variety displays gold colored foliage andweeping growth habit. Moreover, the new variety can be readilydistinguished from other similar non-parental varieties. For example,the ‘Ruby Falls’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,097) displays purple toburgundy colored foliage, whereas the new variety displays gold coloredfoliage.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation atBelvidere, Tenn. by chip budding since 2015. Asexual propagation by chipbudding in Belvidere, Tenn. has shown that the characteristics of thenew variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexualpropagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new varietyundergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The Cercis plants of the newvariety were approximately two years of age and were observed at thebeginning of the third growing season at Jackson Spring, N.C., U.S.A.while growing outdoors.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen the tree—side view.

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of the foliage—close view.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheRoyal Horticultural Society (“R.H.S.” Colour Chart), London, England,2015 edition. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart hasbeen added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thecolor values of the flowers were determined in April 2019 and the colorvalues of the foliage were determined in June 2019 under natural lightconditions in Cochranville, Pa.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom chip budding and grown outside in a test field in Cochranville, Pa.Plants were approximately three years of age. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plants.

-   Class: Cercis Plant.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Weeping.        -   Type.—Deciduous perennial tree.        -   General appearance.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Size.—Height: approximately 1.9 meters. — width:            approximately 70 cm.        -   Trunk.—Diameter immediately above graft union: approximately            2.5 cm. — texture: slightly rugose.        -   Branches.—Generally: highly branched and weeping. —            strength: moderately strong. — diameter of new growth:            approximately 2.0 mm. — diameter of one-year old growth:            approximately 9.0 mm. — texture of new growth: glabrous. —            color of young stem: commonly near Grey-Brown Group N199A. —            color of mature stem: commonly near Greyed-Green Group 197A.            — lenticel: numerous, tiny; length is less than 1.0 mm on            average; shape is elliptic; color is commonly near            Grey-Brown Group N199D.-   Foliage:    -   -   General description.—Type: deciduous. — arrangement:            alternate.        -   Leaves.—Shape: cordate. — apex: acute. — base: cordate. —            margin: entire. — length: approximately 7.5 cm. — width:            approximately 9.5 cm. — texture of upper and lower surfaces:            smooth, glabrous. — venation pattern: palmate. — color of            upper and lower surfaces of young foliage: commonly near            Greyed-Orange Group 164A and near Greyed-Orange Group 165C            with venation of near Yellow-Green Group 145B. — color of            upper surface of mature foliage: commonly near Yellow-Green            Group N144C with venation of commonly near Yellow-Green            Group N144D. — color of lower surface of mature foliage:            commonly near Green Group 142C with venation of commonly            near Green Group 142D. — fragrance: none detected.        -   Petiole.—Length: approximately 4.0 cm. — diameter:            approximately 1.1 mm. — texture: smooth, glabrous. — color:            commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 165B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering season.—Flowers in early spring.        -   General description.—Compound corymbs. — aspect: facing            upward to slightly outward. — fragrance: none noticeable. —            quantity per plant: approximately 150-180. — diameter:            approximately 4.0 cm to 10.0 cm. — height: approximately 2.0            cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: strong. — shape: rounded. — aspect:            erect to about 45° from branch axis. — length: approximately            1.0 cm. — diameter: approximately 0.2 cm. — texture:            glabrous. — color: commonly near Greyed-Purple Group 185D.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: single, rotate, not persistent. —            aspect: upright. — quantity per inflorescence: approximately            9 per cluster.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: ovate tapering to a point. —            diameter: approximately 3.0 mm. — length: approximately            7.0 mm. — color: commonly near Greyed-Purple Group 186A on            the lower bud and near Greyed-Purple Group 186C on the top            of the bud. — texture: glabrous.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: approximately 1.0 cm. — depth:            approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, unfused. — shape: orbicular. — margin:            entire. — apex: rounded. — base: obtuse. — length:            approximately 9.0 mm. — width: approximately 4.0 mm. —            texture of upper and lower surfaces: glabrous. — color of            upper and lower surfaces when first and fully open: upper            two petals have blotches of commonly near Red-Purple Group            N74C over Red-Purple Group N74D on outer surface; inner            surface is commonly near Red-Purple NN74C. Lower two petals            are commonly near Purple Group 77D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: vase-shaped; 5 rounded lobes at terminus. —            diameter: approximately 6.0 mm at top of hypanthium. —            length: approximately 5.0 mm. — color of outer and inner            surfaces: commonly near Red-Purple Group 59C fading to near            Red-Purple Group 59B at base. — texture of inner and outer            surfaces: glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, attached to top of hypanthium. —            arrangement: in a single whorl.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: strong. — shape: round. — length:            approximately 1.0 cm. — diameter: less than 1.0 mm. —            texture: glabrous. — color: commonly near Greyed-Purple            Group 185D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: — Stamen quantity per            flower: 10 on average, unfused and attached to apex of            hypanthium. — Stamen length: approximately 9.0 mm. —            Filament: length is approximately 8.0 mm; color is commonly            near Greyed-Purple Group 186D. — Anther: shape is round to            slightly oblong; length is less than 1.0 mm; width is less            than 1.0 mm; color is commonly near Greyed-Red Group 181B to            Brown Group 200B. — Pollen: amount is abundant; color is            commonly near Greyed-Yellow Group 161D. — Gynoecium: —            Pistil: quantity is 1 per flower; length is approximately            7.0 mm on average; width is less than 1.0 mm; color is            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A; texture is glabrous.            — Stigma: shape is round; color is commonly near            Greyed-Yellow Group 161D; length is less than 1.0 mm; width            is less than 1.0 mm. — Style: shape is elongate; width is            less than 1.0 mm; color is commonly near Greyed-Purple Group            186A towards the apex and near Yellow-Green Group 144A at            the base. — Ovary: position is superior; shape is round;            width is less than 1.0 mm; color is commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Seed production.—None observed to date.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—Plants of the new variety have            not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common            to Cercis plants.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding            to finish as a 4 to 6-foot tree.

The new ‘NC2015-12’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant characterized bythe following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, goldcolored foliage, (b) exhibits weeping growth habit; and (c) providesmoderately vigorous vegetation; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.